Data strip copying attachment for a photocopying machine

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE FOR COPYING DATA TO BE INCORPORATED IN TAX STATEMENTS, OR THE LIKE. THE DATA IS THE FORM OF INFORMATION CARRIED ON SETS F STRIPS SLIDABLY-MOUNTED ON A SUPPORTING FEEDER PLATE. THE MACHINE HAS A SEAT TO RECEIVE THE LOADED FEEDER PLATE. THE SEAT IS ALIGNED WITH A FIXED-POSITIONING PLATE LOCATED OVER THE EXPOSURE AREA OF A PHOTO-COPYING MACHINE. ANOTHER SEAT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE POSITIONING PLATE CONTAINS A REMOVABLE ALIGNED RECEIVING PLATE ON WHICH THE STRIPS ARE SLIDABLY-RECEIVED AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN COPIED. THE STRIPS HAVE END LUGS ENGAGEABLE BY ELECRICALLY-CONTROLLED DRIVE PAWLS CARRIED ON CARRIAGES CONNECTED TO SETS OF ENDLESS SPROKET CHAINS MOUNTED ON THE CHASSIS OF THE MACHINE. THE STRIPS HAVE END MARKERS SENSED BY PHOTOELECTRIC SENSING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON THE CARRIAGES CONNECTED TO ONE SET OF ENDLESS SPROCKET CHAINS. A PROGRAMMING ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OPERATES THE SPROCKET CHAIN MOTORS AND DRIVE ELEMENTS TO SEQUENTIALLY MOVE SETS OF RELATED SRIPS TO SPECIFIC COPYING POSITIONS ON THE POSITIONING PLATE, AND THENCE TO THE RECEIVING PLATE. LIMIT SWITCHES CONTROL THE CYCLE OF OPERATIONS SO THAT THE MACHINE STOPS WHEN ALL THE INFORMATION STRIPS HAVE BEEN COPIED AND DELIVERED TO THE RECEIVING PLATE.

K. N. scoTT 3,669,536

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United States Patent Oflice Patented June 13, 1972 3,669 536 DATA STRIP COPYING ATTACHMENT FOR A PHOTOCOPYING MACHINE A machine for copying data to be incorporated in tax statements, or the like. The data is in the form of information carried on sets of strips slidably-mounted on a supporting feeder plate. The machine has a seat to receive the loaded feeder plate. The seat is aligned with a fixed-positioning plate located over the exposure area of a photo-copying machine. Another seat on the opposite side of the positioning plate contains a removable aligned receiving plate on which the strips are slidably-received after they have been copied. The strips have end lugs engageable by electrically-controlled drive pawls carried on carriages connected to sets of endless sprocket chains mounted on the chassis of the machine. The strips have end markers sensed by photoelectric sensing elements mounted on the carriages connected to one set of endless sprocket chains. A programming electrical circuit operates the sprocket chain motors and drive elements to sequentially move sets of related strips to specific copying positions on the positioning plate, and thence to the receiving plate. Limit switches control the cycle of operations so that the machine stops when all the information strips have been copied and delivered to the receiving plate.

This invention relates to copying machines, and more particularly to automatic data-copying machines adapted to be employed for copying data to be incorporated in tax statements, or the like.

A main object of the invention is to provide an improved copying device for use in conjunction with, or as a part of a photo-copying assembly for copying data to be incorporated in tax statements, or the like, wherein the data is in the form of information carried on discrete strips or similar objects which can be slidably-mounted on a suitable support, such as a generally rectangular plate, the device being relatively simple in construction, providing rapid copying of the data, and providing automatic movement of the data-carrying strip elements to required positions for correct copying.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for copying data, such as tax data, or the like, available on strips slidably-mounted on a supporting feeder plate, or the like, the machine enabling the data to be rapidly and accurately positioned for copying, and being further arranged to subsequently move the data strips onto a receiving plate which, after it has been removed, may be ultimately again used as a feeder plate for the copying mchine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment or device to be employed in conjunction with, or as a part of, a photo-copying machine and being especially adapted for use in copying data to be incorporated in tax statements, or the like, the device involving relatively inexpensive components, being durable in construction, being reliable in operation, and operating automatically to correctly position datacarrying strips for proper exposure in the process of marking up tax statements, or the like, and for subsequently moving the data-carrying strips onto a support plate similar to that on which the strips were originally mounted. so that the receiving support plate can he ultitill mately re-used as a strip-feeding plate for the preparation of future statements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for a copying machine for automatically moving information-carrying strips into specified groups and positions for exposure in the copying machine to produce tax statements, or the like, the attachment being relatively compact in size, being entirely automatic in operation, and being highly flexible in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through an improved strip-data-copying attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the general relationship between a feeder plate, the fixed-positioning plate, and a strip-receiving plate, as employed in the data-copying attachment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing one end portion of the feeder plate of FIG. 9, and illustrating the manner in which a data-carrying strip is telescopically-engaged on the plate.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing adjacent corner portions of the feeder plate and the fixed-positioning plate of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 9, and

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the respective mating portions of the electrical programming circuit employed with 'the data-strip-copying device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12.

The apparatus of the present invention is for the purpose of providing the essential data to be incorporated in tax statements, or the like, such as the taxpayers name and the identification of one or more pieces of property owned by the taxpayer, the taxpayers address,

p and the like. Employed with the apparatus of the present invention and coordinated therewith is another apparatus which provides heading information to be incorporated in the tax statements. In the typical embodiment illustrated and described herein, the means for providing the heading information includes a strip carrying this information which moves in a direction transverse to the movement of the elements carrying the above-mentioned taxpayer and property identification, and the system operates to place the heading strip and the data elements in proper positions over the transparent top window of a conventional photo-copying machine so that the appropriate taxpayers name, property identification data and heading information are copied simultaneously to provide the desired finished tax roll, or tax statement sets. The means for positioning the heading information strip is not a part of the present invention, although the operation of the device of this invention is coordinated with the action 3 of the heading information means in a manner presently to be described. Also, the copying machine, itself, is of a substantially conventional type, but is intended to be coordinated with the heading informatiomprovidin g means and the tax data-changing device forming the present invention in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

In general, the data-feeding device of the present invention employs movable strips carrying the data to be furnished, the strips being slidably-mounted on a feeder plate on which the information strips may be mounted and filed for storage. Each feeder plate" carries groups of strips forming respective tax units, each tax unit consisting of a strip with the taxpayer's name and one piece of property owned by the taxpayer and a second strip with the taxpayers address and another piece of property if more than one piece is owned. Additional strips may be included in a tax group" identifying additional pieces of property owned by the taxpayer. A number of complete groups of tax units may be mounted on one feeder plate. The apparatus of the present invention is arranged to receive a feeder plate and to move two tax'units into proper positions onto a positioning plate which is a fixed part of the apparatus and which is located over the transparent exposure panel of the associated photo-copying machine and which is also located over the portion of the header information strip to be photo-copied simultaneously with the tax units positioned on the positioning plate. The device of the present invention properly locates the strips comprising the two tax units so that they are photo-copied as two separate statements, simultaneously with the appropriate heading information to be employed therewith.

The device of the present invention simultaneously photo-copies the pairs of tax units after which another pair of tax units is moved from the feeder plate onto the positioning plate and properly positioned thereon, pushing the previously-copied strips onto a receiving plate which is identical to the feeder plate, but which is empty. The tax units are successively photo-copied by the apparatus of the present invention, and are moved onto the receiving plate until finally all of the tax units have been photo-copied and all of the strips carrying the associated data thereof have been transferred to the receiving plate. The apparatus is arranged to turn itself off at this point and to re-set itself for a repetition of the above-described operation. The filled receiving plate" may then be removed for filing, and the empty feeder plate" previously employed may be used as the receiving plate in the next photo-copying operation.

The apparatus of the present invention employs a programming circuit arrangement for automatically and sequentially feeding tax units" to the positioning plate, the apparatus being provided with photo-electric sensing means responding to markings provided on the information strips and also including limit switches actuated by the information strips, or by other moving parts of the device to operate the programming circuit to provide the desired sequence of working steps, and having means to properly move the information strips so as to arrange them successively in pairs of tax units, as above-described, for simultaneous copying. Thus, the apparatus includes carriages supported by endless chains which are driven by motors controlled by the programming circuit, and the carriages include extensible pawls which are likewise controlled by the programming circuit so as to move into engagement with portions of the information strips when it is desired to drivingly-connect the carriages to the tax units for movement into proper positions for photo-copying.

Referring now to the drawings generally designates an improved data transport mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention. The data transport mechanism 15 comprises a generally rectangular main housing 16 provided with suitable means, not shown, rigidly-supporting the housing in transverse overlying re lationship to the transparent exposure window or panel 17 of a conventional photo-copying machine 18. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the housing 16 is similarly rigidlysupported over a heading information-carrying strip 19 in transverse relation thereto, as shown in FIG. 1. The heading information-carrying strip 19 is made of suitable transparent flexible material so that it does not interfere with the exposure of the data strips of the transport mechanism 15 to the copying machine 18 through the transparent exposure panel 17. The heading information strip 19 is actuated by its own transport mechanism, forming no part of the present invention, but having a movement which is properly synchronized with the action of the data strip transport mechanism 15, as will be presently described.

FIGS. 1 and 3 diagrammatically illustrate the location of the heading information on heading strip 19, said information being shown at 21, 21, since the strip transport mechanism 15 is designed to furnish two groups of information strips simultaneously for exposure to the copying machine 18, the location of the information-bearing areas 21 being such as to provide the proper headings associated with the selected groups of tax unit strips. It Will thus be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the heading data areas are respectively located at the intermediate portion and at the right marginal portion of the transversely-overlapped common area of housing 16 and heading strip 19, namely, the exposure area adjacent trans parent exposure panel 17.

The housing 16 has the respective right and left transverse vertical end walls 22 and 23, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the right end wall 22 defining the forward end of the transport device 15, and the left end wall 23 defining the rear end of said device. The end walls 22 and 23 are connected by respective longitudinal sidewalls 24 and 25. The longitudinal walls 24 and 25 have inwardly-extending horizontal bottom flange portions 26 and 27, and the end wall 23 has a horizontal transverse bottom flange portion 28. As shown in FIG. 3, the front end wall 22 has an inwardly-extending horizontal bottom flange 29.

Flange 28 at the rear end of the device is provided with an upstanding shoulder 30 beveled at its inner top corner, as shown at 31, the shoulder 30 terminating somewhat short of the edge of bottom flange 28 to define a transverse corner seat, the inner edge of the shoulder being provided with one or more inwardly-projecting ball detents 32 located above the margin of flange 28 so as to loekingly-receive an edge of a feeder plate thereon in a manner presently to be described. Flange 29 at the forward end of the device is likewise provided with a shoulder, as shown at 33, beveled at its inner top corner, as shown at 34, and provided with inwardly-projecting ball detents 35 spaced above the inwardly-projecting marginal portion of flange 29 to define a seat to receive an edge of a receiving plate as will be presently described. Thus, the seat defined immediately beneath the ball detents 32 of shoulder 30 is adapted to lookingly-receive the rear marginal edge portion of a feeder plate 36 and the seat defined immediately beneath the ball detents 35 of shoulder 33 is shaped to lockingly-rcceive the forward transverse marginal portion of a receiving plate 37 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

Housing 16 is provided at its intermediate portion with the transversely-extending top plate, or wall element 38, as shown in FIG. 6. Rigidly-secured to and depending from the transverse top plate element 38 are respective longitudinally extending depending rectangular frame members 39, 39 connected at their bottom ends by respective front and rear transverse bar elements 40. Rigidly-secured to the transverse bar elements 40, 40 and projecting laterally from the planes of the longitudinal frame portions 39, 39 is the positioning plate, designated at 41. As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning plate 41 is thus supported horizontally beneath the frame structure defined by longitudinal side frames 39, 39 and the crossbars 40, and is supported coplanar with the seats defined by the inwardly-projecting inner marginal portions of flanges 28 and 29.

The top portions of the longitudinal side frame mem' bers 39, 39 are also connected by transverse bar elements 42, as shown in FIG. 6, providing additional rigidity for the intermediate generally rectangular frame structure to the bottom of which the positioning plate 41 is secured.

The bottom crossbars 40, 40 are formed with respective forwardly and rearwardly-facing longitudinal recesses 43 and 44 (see FIG. 3), and secured on the forward and rear margins of the positioning plate 41 are the respective forwardly and rearwardly-extending marginal spring plates 45 and 46. Secured to the center portions of the bottom surfaces of the front and rear margins of positioning plate 41 are respective forwardly and rearwardly-projecting spring tabs 47 and 48.

The spring plates 45 and 46 and the spring tabs 47 and 48 are formed of any suitable thin resilient spring material, such as spring metal, resilient plastic material, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, the positioning plate 41 is of the same width as the feeder plate 36 and the receiving plate" 37, and said feeder plate" and "receiving plate" can be aligned with the fixed positioning plate 41 in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

The corner portions of the positioning plate 41 are further provided with opposed pairs of top and bottom leaf springs for receiving the adjacent corner portions of the feeder plate" 36 and the receiving plate 37 therebetween. Thus, the rear corners of the positioning plate 41 are provided with rearwardly-extending top and bottom opposing bowed leaf spring elements 49 and 50 having rearwardly-projecting free ends which are receivable in correspondingly-shaped recesses 51 and 52 provided in the top and bottom surfaces of the corners of the feeder plate" 36, as shown in FIG. 12. Similar forwardly-projecting pairs of leaf spring elements 53 and 54 are secured to the forward corners of positioning plate 41 and receiving recesses are provided in the corner portions of the receiving plate 37 to receive the ends of the opposing pairs of leaf springs 53, 54 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 12, the bowed pairs of leaf springs at the corners of the positioning plate 41 are of relatively low height and the recesses in the feeder plate 36 and receiving plate 37 receiving the ends of the leaf springs are formed to provide suflicient space to allow the leaf springs to yield to permit passage therepast of the hooked end portions of the data strips, presently to be described, as said data strips are transferred from the feeder plate 36 to the positioning plate 41 and subsequently from the positioning plate 41 to the receiving plate 37. Feeder plate 36 is of sufiicient length to be received with its forward edge substantially in abutment with the rear edge f positioning plate 41 and its rear margin engaged in the seat defined on the lip of flange 28 adjacent the beveled shoulder 30. Thus, the forward margin of "feeder plate 36 can be engaged between the fiat bar element 46 and spring element 48, with its corners received between the pairs of leaf springs 49, 50 and the ends of the leaf springs received in the recesses 51, 52, as above-described. The feeder plate 36 can be thus positioned and will be yieldably secured in horizontal position in alignment with feeder plate 36 by the locking effect provided by ball detents 32. Similarly, the receiving plate 37 which is identical in size to the feeder plate 36 can be received between the front edge of positioning plate 41 and the seat defined by the inwardly-projecting lip of flange 29, with the front margin of receiving plate" 37 releasably-secured in this position by the action of the ball detents 35.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the data strips are arranged so that they are slidably-mounted on the feeder plate 36, being originally carried thereon. and being movable in a definite programmed manner, presently to be described, onto the fixed positioning plate 41, and thence onto the receiving plate 37, to which they are all ultimately transferred. As shown in FIG. 9, the strips are adapted to be mounted on the plate 36 in a downwardlyfacing position, whereby they are still in such downwardlyfacing positions when they are located on the positioning plates 41. The data strips are of identical physical size and shape, each data strip comprising an elongated flat main body portion 58 provided with channeled or hook-like end portions 59, 59 adapted to slidably-receive the opposite edges of the plates 36, 41 and 37 so as to support the body portion of each strip 58 in a transverse position adjacent the bottom surface of the plate. The channeled ends 59. 59 are integrally-formed at their intermediate portions with the outwardly-projecting horizontal lugs 60, 60 which, as will be subsequently described, transmit the necessary force to the strips to slide them along the plates 36, 41 and 37.

As previously-mentioned, each tax unit" comprises a group of strips consisting of a name strip 61 and one or more property-designating strips 62. The top flanges of the hook portions 59, 59 of name strips 61 are coated with non-reflective paint, such as fiat black paint, or the like, as shown at 63. The top surfaces of the end elements 59, 59 of the remaining strips 62 are substantially fully reflective.

The inwardly-projecting horizontal flanges 27 and 26 of longitudinal walls 25 and 24 are formed at their inner edges with upstanding vertical supporting flanges 64 and 65' to each of which is rigidly-secured a pair of opposing longitudinallyextending, vertically-spaced channeled horizontal track members 65 and 66, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The upper track channels 65 extend substantially from the rear end portion of housing 16, namely, the leftend portion thereof, as viewed in FIG. 1, to approximately the middle of the positioning plate 41, whereas the upwardly-facing bottom track channels 66 extend well beyond the positioning plate to the region of the left portion of the receiving plate 37, as viewed in FIG. 1.

The downwardly-facing upper track channels 65 and the upwardly-facing lower track channels 66 have opposing V-shaped inside wall grooves 67, 67 which receive the supporting rollers 68 of respective longitudinally, horizontally-movable carriage members C and C located in the top track channels 65 and the bottom track channels 66, as shown in FIG. 4. Since there are identical sets of channeled tracks and carriages on the opposite sides of the housing, there are a pair of transversely-aligned carriages C and also a pair of transversely-aligned carriages Each carriage C, is drivingly-connectcd to the bottom run of an endless sprocket chain T whose ends pass around respective pairs of vertically-spaced supporting sprockets 69, 70, 71 and 72 journaled to the opposite end portions of the upstanding flanges 64 and 65', each upper sprocket being mounted on a transversely-extending sprocket shaft 73. Each shaft 73 is provided with a drive sprocket 74 engaged by a short sprocket chain 75 which, in turn, engages around a sprocket 76 adjustably-secured to an end disc 77 provided on a transverse shaft 78 hoii zontally-journaled in the stationary frame members 39, 39, as shown in FIG. 2. Shaft 78 is drivingly-coupled by a sprocket chain assembly 79 at its intermediate portion to the output shaft of an electric motor M mounted on a fixed supporting plate 80 horizontally-secured rigidly inside the stationary frame structure comprising the vertical frames 39 and the members rigidly-interconnecting them.

The carriages C are similarly connected each to the bottom run of another endless sprocket chain T each chain engaging around respective end sprockets 81 and 82 journaled to the adjacent upstanding flange 64 or 65'. The sprockets 81 and 82 are located outwardly-adjacent the opposite end portions of the upper channel tracks 65, as shown in FIG. 2. The previously-mentioned pairs of sprockets 69, 70 and 7]. 72 associated with the sprocket chain T are similarly located outwardly-adjacent the pposite ends of the associated lower channel track 66.

Each end sprocket 82 is carried on a transverse shaft 83 having a drive sprocket 84 coupled by a sprocket chain 85 to a transverse drive shaft 86, as shown in FIG. 2, the chains 85 engaging on sprockets 87 which are adjustablysecured to respective disc-shaped end portions 77 provided on the shaft 86, similar to those mentioned above in connection with the shaft 78. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the end portions 77 are provided with pairs of arcuate slots 89, 89 concentric with their associated shafts through which engage heated clamping screws 90 which are threadedly-engaged in the respective sprockets 87 or 76, allowing phase adjustments to be made of the sprockets 87 and 76 relative to each other.

The shaft 86 is drivingly-connected by a sprocket chain assembly 91 at its intermediate portion to a second driving motor M mounted on the plate 80.

Each carriage C is provided with a substantially horizontal inwardly-projecting arm 92 to which is secured a horizontally arranged solenoid P; having an outwardlyextending plunger 93 provided at its end with a vertical pawl element 94 which, when in extended position, is receivable between the lugs 60, 60 of a pair of adjacent data strips.

Secured to the carriages C are right-angled bracket members 95 (FIG. 4) having depending arms 96 to which are secured solenoids P having horizontal plunger elements similar to the plunger elements 93 and provided at their ends with vertical pawl elements 96 (see FIG. 1) which, when in extended positions, are also engageable between the lugs 60 of a pair of adjacent data strips.

The pawl members 94 and 96 are biased inwardly toward their associated solenoids toward normal inoperative positions by retraction springs 97 connecting the pawl members to their associated solenoids, whereby the pawl members are normally held retracted sutliciently so that they do not engage between the lugs 60 and are retracted so that when the carriages move they normally do not drivingly-engage the lugs. Only when the solenoids are energized are the pawl members 94 and 96 extended sufficiently to interengage between pairs of lugs 60 and thereby move the data strips forwardly thereof responsive to the movement of their associated carriages.

Mounted on one arm 92 above the level of the ad jacent solenoid P and rearwardly offset therefrom b a distance approximately equal to one-half the width of a data strip body 58 is a first photoelectric sensing unit A which projects inwardly a sufficient distance to overlie the top flanges of the hooked elements 59 of the data strips, the photoelectric unit A; being mounted on the arm 92 associated with a carriage C at one side of the assembly, for example, at the lower side of the assembly, as viewed in FIG. 1, As shown in FIG. 4, the photoelectric sensing unit A overlies the top flange of the hooked end 59 and is provided with a lamp housing portion 98 including an electric lamp 99 (see FIG. 13), said housing portion being inclined so as to direct a beam of light 100 downwardly onto a subjacent surface and to allow said beam to be reflected in an inclined path upwardly and to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, toward another housing portion 101 containing a photocell 102. Thus, the photoelectric sensing unit A is supported in a position wherein it an scan the top flanges of the hooked end portions of the data strips, as well as the corresponding marginal portions of the plate members 36 and 41 as the sensing unit is moved b its supporting carriage C A similar photoelectric sensing unit A is provided on the carriage C the photoelectric sensing unit A, being provided with the electric lamp 103 as its light source (see FIG. 13), and the photocell 104 as its sensing means.

The opposite side of the assembly is provided with two additional photoelectric sensors of similar construction to those previously described, namely, the two fixed sensors A and A; secured to the fixed frame portion 39 at the side of the device adjacent longitudinal wall 25, as shown in FIG. 6. The photoelectric sensing unit A is provided with a lamp 105 as its light source and a photocell 106 arranged to receive reflected light from the beam 107 generated by the lamp, as shown in FIG. 6, the beam being reflected (in the absence of a shaded subjacent area) from the top flanges of the hooked end portions of the strips moving therepast. The circular area 107 in FIG. 1 generally designates the location of the fixed sensing unit A Another circular area 108 in FIG. 1 generally designates the location of the remaining fixed photoelectric sensing unit A which is identical in construction to the fixed sensing unit A Thus, the fixed sensing unit A is provided with a lamp 109 as its light source and a photoelectric sensing element 110 as its photosensitive means. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the stop-sensing areas 107 and 108 are located at positions corresponding to the required locations for name-carrying data strips to be employed in photo-copying the two tax units to be simultaneously copied, along with their associated headings.

The photosensitive units A A A and A are generally conventional in construction and will be presently described in more detail in conjunction with the electrical circuit arrangement of the device.

The fixed positioning plate 41 is provided with a shaded marker area 111 at its margin adjacent longitudinal wall 24, located at the intermediate portion of the left side of the data-exposure area of the positioning plate, as viewed in FIG. 1.

The marker area 111 is located so that it can be scanned by the sensors A; and A, as they are moved longitudinally of the housing 16 by their carriages. Similarly positioned additional shaded marker areas 112, 113 and 114 are provided on the end shoulder 30 for a purpose to be later described.

Respective limit switches S and S are provided at the forward ends of the paths of movement of the carriages C and C these switches being normally engaged by said carriages, namely, being engaged by the carriages at the beginning of a cycle of operation of the device. Thus, FIG. 13 schematically indicates that the limit switches S and S which are of the normally open, double-pole, single-throw type, are held closed by the carriages at the beginning of the operating cycle of the device. The limit switches S and S are mounted in any suitable manner on the horizontal longitudinal flange 26 of housing 16.

A single-pole, single-throw, normally open limit switch S is mounted on flange 27 of the housing located rearwardly adjacent a corner of the positioning plate 41 in a position to be engaged by the extended pawl member 94 or 96 of the associated solenoid P or P A singlepole, double-throw reversing limit switch S is similarly mounted on the margin of the opposite flange 26 adjacent a diagonally-opposite corner of the positioning plate 41, the switch being in a position to be engaged by the lugs 60 of the data strips as they are moved onto the receiving plate" 37. The switch S is normally in a position wherein its pole engages its lower contact 23,, (FIG. 13), but when the limit switch is engaged by a lug 60, as above-mentioned, its pole, shown at 112, is moved into engagement with its upper contact 23 The limit switch S is located so that it can be engaged, with equal effect, by either the extended pawls 94, 96, or by the end lugs 60 of the data strips.

Additional limit switches S and S are provided adjacent the rearward ends of the paths of movement of the carriages C and C these limit switches being operatively-engageable by the arms projecting from these carriages to definitely limit the leftward movement of the carriages, as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to prevent them from leaving their associated tracks 66 and 65, in a manner presently to be described. The limit switches S and S may be mounted in any suitable manner, for example, may be mounted on an end of the shoulder 30 opposite the location of the auxiliary marker areas 112, 113 and 114, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14 which show the electrical circuitry associated with the device, it will be seen that the photoelectric assemblies A A A and A are of generally similar construction. Thus, the circuit of the assembly A, will be described, and it will be understood that the circuits of the remaining photoelectric assemblies A A and A are similar. Thus, the circuit of the photoelectric assembly A comprises the photosensitive element 110, which is a conventional element, for example, of the cadmium sulfide type, which conducts responsive to light above a threshold intensity value. The photo-sensitive unit 110 is connected between a wire 115 and the base of a first transistor amplifier Q Wire 115 is connected to the sliding contact of a sensitivity-adjusting potentiometer R Potentiometer R is connected between a positive voltage supply wire 122 and ground. Wire 122 is connected through the contacts 126, 127 of a relay S to the positive voltage output terminal 128 of a convention rectifier circuit including a full-wave rectifier D The rectifier circuit D is fed from the secondary 117 of a power-supply transformer 118.

The photoelectric assembly A comprises the conventionally-connected amplifier transistors Q and Q with the output of the transistor Q leading to the primary of an output transformer 119, said output transformer having the secondary 120 which is connected through a block ing rectifier diode 121 to the winding of a relay S The diode 121 is polarized to prevent current flow to the relay winding when there is a build-up of current in the primary of the transformer 119, namely, when the photo-sensitive element 110 is exposed to light. Thus, the element 110 is connected to the base of the input transistor Q in a manner to render the transistor conducting responsive to the reception of light by the photo-sensitive element 110 above a predetermined threshold intensity. As previouslymentioned, the build-up of current in the primary of transformer 119 will not affect the relay 8,; because of the presence of the blocking diode 121. However, when the light impinging on the photo-sensitive element 110 is interrupted, or sharply reduced in intensity, transistor Q is rendered non-conducting and the current in the primary winding of transformer 119 decays. This decay of current causes a decay of flux which produces current in the secondary 120 reversed as compared to that which occurs when element 110 receives light, the reverse current being able to pass the diode 121 and thereby energize the relay S The photoelectric assembly A similarly is provided with an output circuit conected to a relay S which is normally de-energized, namely, when the photo-sensitive element 102 is receiving light, but which becomes energized responsive to the interruption of, or drastic reduction of the light impinging on the photo-sensitive element 102.

The photoelectric assembly A is likewise provided with an output circut connected to the winding of a relay which becomes energized responsive to the interruption of, or substantial reduction of the intensity of the light impinging on its associated photo-sensitive element 106.

The photoelectric assembly A, is likewise provided with an output circuit containing the winding of a relay S which becomes energized responsive to the interruption of, or drastic reduction in intensity of the light normally impinging on its photo-sensitive element 104.

As above-mentioned, the photoelectric assembly A is provided with a sensitivity-adjusting potentiometer R The remaining photoelectric assemblies A A and A are similarly provided with respective sensitivity-adjusting potentiometers R R and R connected in the same manner as the potentiometer R From FIGS. 13 and 14 it will, therefore, be apparent that under normal conditions with the relay S energized in a manner presently to be described, and the contacts 126-127 closed, positive forward bias is available for the input transistors of the respective photoelectric assemblies A A A and A assuming that their photo-sensitive elements 110, 102, 106 and 104 are illuminated, namely, are receiving light by reflection from their associated light sources, namely, the lamps 109, 99, 105 and 103.

Under these circumstances, a normal steady-state current flows in the primaries of the output transformers of the respective photoelectric assemblies. Interruption of the impinging light exhortation on the photo-sensitive elements of the respective photoelectric assemblies gencrates a pulse of current in the output circuits of the photoelectric assemblies in the proper direction to be conducted by their associated blocking diodes 121, to thereby cause momentary energization of their associated output relays, namely, the relays S S S and S The control circuit for the apparatus includes a pair of stepping relays designated generally at and S each of the stepping relays being of the double-wafer type and comprising the respective sets of stepping switch segments S 3 and S S The stepping relay S is provided with the stepping coil 8C and the stepping relay S is provided with the stepping coil 5C One terminal of the stepping coil 5C is connected to the ground wire 116 and the other terminal of the stepping coil is connected to the positive voltage-supply wire 122 through a wire 129 and the contacts 130-131 of the relay S Thus, the stepping relay 8,; is stepped once for each pulse of current flowing through the winding of the relay S namely, for each interruption of illumination experienced by the photosensitive element 102.

Similarly, one terminal of the stepping coil 5C is connected to the grounded wire 116 and the other terminal of the stepping coil 8C is connected to a wire 132 through the contacts 133-134 of the relay 8, the wire 132 being connected, in turn, to the positive voltage-supply wire 122. Therefore, stepping relay S is moved through one step for each pulse of current received by the winding of the relay S namely, each time the illumination of the photo-sensitive element 104 is interrupted.

It will be further seen that the wire 129 associated with stepping coil 8C is also connected to the positive voltage-supply wire 122 through the contacts 135136 of the relay S Therefore, the stepping relay S is also stepped in response to a current pulse received by the winding of relay S namely, in response to an interruption of the illumination on the photosensitive element 110. Similarly, the ungrounded terminal of the stepping coil SC,; is connected to a wire 137 which is, in turn, connected to the wire 132 through the contacts 138439 of the relay S Thus, the stepping coil 8C is energized to cause the stepping of the stepping relay S with each closure of the contacts 138, 139, namely, each time the winding of the relay S receives a pulse of current, namely, by the interruption of the light impinging on the photo-sensitive element 106. As above-mentioned, the above events are predicated on the energization of the relay S and the closure of its contacts 126127, which connects the positive voltage-supply wire 122 to the positive voltage-output terminal 128.

The stepping relays S and 3,; are of conventional construction and are provided with respective reset coils RC and RC for returning the stepping relays to their starting positions responsive to the energization thereof. Thus, when the reset coil RC is energized, it returns the poles 140 and 141 of respective stepping switch segments S and 8 to their No. 1 positions. The reset coil RC associated with the stepping relay 8,, accomplishes the 1 1 same function with respect to the poles 142, 143 of the stepping relay segments S and S One terminal of the reset coil RC is connected to the ground wire 116 and the other terminal thereof is connected to a wire 144, which is connected, in turn, to the positive voltage-supply wire 122 through the lower contacts 145-146 of the double-pole limit switch S As shown in FIG. 13, the contacts 145-146 are normally closed because of the engagement of the carriage C with limit switch S in the starting position of the apparatus.

One terminal of the reset coil RC is connected to the ground wire 116 and the other terminal thereof is connected by a wire 147 to the wire 132 through the lower contacts 148-149 of the limit switch S As shown in FIG. 14, the contacts 148-149 are normally closed because of the engagement of the carriage C with limit switch S in the starting position of the apparatus.

One terminal of each of the lamps 109', 99, 105 and 103 is connected to the grounded conductor 116. The other terminal of lamp 109 is connected by a wire 150 to the positive voltage-supply wire 122. The ungrounded terminal of lamp 105 is connected by a Wire 151 to the positive-voltage wire 132. The ungrounded terminal of lamp 99 is connected by a wire 152 to the No. 1, No. 2" and No. 3 contacts of the stepping switch segment 8 The pole 141 of this stepping switch segment is connected to a wire 154, which is, in turn, connected to the positive-voltage wire 132. The ungrounded terminal of the lamp 103 is connected by a wire 155 to the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 contacts of the stepping switch segment S The pole 143 of this switch segment is connected to the wire 154, and hence, through wire 132 to the positive-voltage supply wire 122. Thus, with contacts 126, 127 closed, and the carriages C and C in their starting positions, the lamps 109, 105 will be energized by the closure of contacts 145-146 and 148- 149, and the lamps 99 and 103 will be energized because the poles 141 and 143 of switch segments S and S are in their No. 1" positions. It will also be apparent from FIG. 13 that lamp 109 will remain energized as long as contacts 126-127 of relay S are closed because of the direct connection of wire 150 to wire 122. The same is true with respect to the lamp 105 because of the direct connection of wire 151 to wire 132.

One terminal of each of the pawl-extension solenoids P is connected to a wire 156 which is, in turn, connected to grounded conductor 116. The other terminal of each of the pawl-extension solenoids P is connected to the No. 4, No. 5, No. 6" and No. 7 contacts of the stepping switch segment 5 whereby the pawls associated with these solenoids are extended when the pole 141 is in any one of the No. 4," No. 5, No. 6 or No. 7 positions of stepping relay S with relay contacts 126-127 closed.

Similarly, one terminal of each of the pawl-extension solenoids P is connected by a wire 157 to the grounded conductor 116 and the other terminals of the solenoids are connected to the No. 5, No. 6, No. 7" and No. 8 contacts of the stepping switch segment 5 The pole 143 of this switch segment is connected to the wire 154, so that the solenoids P are energized (with contacts 126-127 closed) when the stepping switch segment S is in the No. 5, No. 6, No. 7," or No. 8 position.

Carriage motor M is provided with a field winding 158 and an armature winding 159 which are series-connected through the contacts of a double-pole reversing relay S7. Relay S; has the poles 160, 161 normally engaging the lower contacts of the relay S said lower contacts being shown at 162, 163. The poles 160, 161 are engageable with the upper contacts of the relay, shown at 164, 165 responsive to energization of the relay. Contacts 162 and 165 are connected together to one terminal of the armature winding 159 by a Wire 166. The other terminal of the armature winding 159 is connected by a wire 167 to the remaining relay contacts 164, 163. One

terminal of field winding 158 is connected to the grounded conductor 116 and the other terminal thereof is connected to the relay pole 160. Relay pole 161 is connected by a wire 168 to the No. 2" and No. 3 contacts of the stepping relay switch segment S Thus, normally, the field winding 158 and the armature winding 159 are connected in series between the grounded conductor 116 and the wire 168, the armature connections being reversed responsive to the energization of the relay S7- The reversal of the armature connections reverses the direction of rotation of the shaft of the carriage motor M and hence, reverses the direction of movement of carriage C as will be presently described.

The carriage motor M similarly has an armature winding 170 and the field winding 169. Associated with motor M is a reversing relay S having the poles 171 and 172 normally engaging lower contacts 173 and 174 and being moved into engagement with upper contacts 175 and 176 responsive to the energization of the relay S The upper contact 175 and the lower contact 174 are connected to a common wire 177 which is, in turn connected to one terminal of the armature winding 170, and the other terminal of the armature winding 170 is connected by a wire 178 to the lower contact 173 and upper contact 176. One terminal of field winding 169 is connected to the grounded conductor 116 and the other terminal thereof is connected by a wire 180 to pole 171. Pole 172 is connected through a first diode 181 to a wire 182 which is, in turn, connected to the No. 2," No. 3 and No. 4 contacts of the stepping relay segment S Pole 172 is connected through a second diode 183 to a wire 184 which is, in turn, connected to the No. 8 and No. 7 contacts of the stepping switch segment S As in the case of the motor M the armature winding connection of the motor M is reversed responsive to the energization of the relay S thereby causing a reversal in direction of the motor M and its associated carriage C as will be presently described.

The poles 140, 141, 143 and 142 of respective stepping switch segments S 5 and S are connected to the common wire 154, as above-mentioned, which is, in turn, connected to the positive supply Wire 132. Also connected to the wire 154 is the pole 185 of a relay 5 said pole being engageable with a stationary contact 186 responsive to the energization of the relay. One terminal of the winding of relay S is connected to the grounded conductor 116 and the other terminal thereof is connected by a wire 187 to the No. 1" contact of the stepping switch segment S Contact 186 is connected by a wire 188 to the poles 189 and 190 of another relay S whose winding has one terminal connected to the grounded conductor 116 and the other terminal connected by a wire 191 to the No. 1 contact of the stepping switch segment S The wire 182 is connected to one of the stationary contacts 192 of relay S and the other stationary contact 193 is connected by a wire 194 to the wire 168, and hence, to the No. 2" and No. 3 contacts of stepping switch segment S Wire 154 is connected by a wire 195 to the pole 196 of a relay S whose winding has one terminal connected to the grounded wire 116 and the other terminal thereof connected by a wire 19'! to the No. 4 contact of the stepping switch segment S The stationary contact 198 of relay S is connected by a wire 199 to the poles 200, and 201, of a relay S whose winding has one terminal connected to the grounded conductor 116 and the other terminal connected by a wire 202 to the No. 5 contact of the stepping switch segment 8 The upper stationary contact 203 of relay S is connected by a wire 204 through a diode 205 to the wire 184. The lower stationary contact 206 of relay S is connected by a wire 207 to the No. 6" contact of the stepping switch segment 8 and is also connected by a wire 208 to one terminal of the winding of relay the other terminal of said winding being connected to the grounded conductor 116, as shown in FIG. 14. The wire 208 is connected to the upper contact 23 of the single-pole, double-throw limit switch 8 As shown, the lower contact 23 of switch S normally engaged by its pole i112 is connected to the wire 129. Pole 112 is connected by a wire 209 to the No. 7" contact of the stepping switch segment S The wire 182 is connected through the upper set of contacts 210-211 of the limit switch S to a wire 212, which is, in turn, connected through the upper set of contacts 213-214 of the limit switch S to a control wire 215 leading to the associated copy machine.

A conductor 216 connects wire 116 to the corresponding grounded conductor of the copy machine.

Wire 122 is connected to wire 215 through the limit switch S which, when closed, acts in the same manner as a control pulse from the copy machine, as will be presently described. Similarly, wire 132 is connected to wire 215 through the limit switch S and a wire 217. Wire 215 is connected to one terminal of the winding of a relay 8;, whose other terminal is connected to the grounded conductor 116, as shown in FIG. 13. Relay S has a pole 218 and a stationary contact 219. The stationary contact 219 is connected by a wire 220 to the wire 122. The pole 218 is connected by a wire 221 to wire 222, which, in turn, is connected to one terminal of the winding of the relay 8;, the other terminal of said winding being connected to the grounded conductor 116. Energization of the relay S closes its contacts 126-127 and connects the wire 122 to the output positive-voltage terminal 128, as abovedescribed. A wire 223 is connected to the terminal 128, and this wire is connected to one terminal of the relay S through a manually-controlled, normally open switch 8,, which may be of any conventional type, which opens when manual pressure is removed therefrom. Thus, the switch S may be manuallyclosed sufficiently to energize the winding of relay S in a manner presently to be described. After the finger pressure is removed from the switch, it opens. Wire 223 is also connected to wire 222 through the upper pole 224 of a control relay S Thus, when the control relay 8,, is energized, the pole 224 engages the stationary contact 225 which is connected to the wire 221. The relay 8., also has another pole 226 connected to the pole 224 and engageable with a stationary contact 227 connected to a wire 228. Wire 228 is connected by a wire 229 and a diode 230 to the wire 129, as shown in FIG. 13. Wire 229 is also connected through the nomally-open limit switch S and a wire 231 to the wire 197, and hence to the No. 4" contact of the stepping relay segment S Wire 229 is also connected by a wire 232 through a diode 233 to the wire 137.

It will be seen that the contacts 224-225 of relay 8, are connected in parallel with the manually-operated switch S so that the closure of either the contacts 224- 225 or switch S will energize the relay S If relay contacts 218-219 are closed, a holding circuit will be established comprising power-supply terminal 128, a wire 234, the pole 126 of relay S the contact 127 engaged thereby, wire 220, closed relay contacts 219-218, wire 221, wire 222, the winding of relay S and the ground conductor 116. This holding circuit can be released by energizing the relay S which can be accomplished by providing a control pulse from the copy machine, by means of the wire 215, or by closing limit switch S or by closing the limit switch S as will be presently described.

The terminals of the winding of relay 3., are connected by wires 235 and 236 to suitable pulsing means provided on the device which operates the heading strip 119, and which may be employed to provide a control pulse to initiate operation of the device of the present invention after the strip 19 has been properly positioned.

A typical mode of operation of the machine is as follows:

Normally the double-pole limit switches S and S are in closed positions, being engaged by the respective carriages C and C The stepped relay segments S 8 S and S are all in their No. 1" position. The switch S is then closed manually and held until the motors are energized sufficiently to release the limit switches S and S The closure of switch S energizes the relay S and closes its contacts 126-127, whereby the relay is held closed by the holding circuit above-described including the closed contacts 218-219 of the de-energized relay S Motor M is energized through a circuit comprising ground wire 116, field winding 158, the contacts -162 of relay Sq, wire 166, armature winding 159, wire 167, the contacts 161-163 of relay Sq, wire i168, wire 194, the contacts 193-190 of the relay S wire 188, the contacts -186 of the relay S the wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, contacts 126-127 of relay S and positive voltage-supply terminal 128. Relay S is energized through a circuit comprising ground wire 116, the winding of the relay S wire 191, the No. 1" contact of stepping relay segment the pole 140, the wire 154, the wire 132, Wire 122, contacts 126-127 and positive voltage-supply terminal 128. Relay S is energized through a circuit comprising ground wire 116, the winding of relay S wire 187, the No. 1 contact of stepping switch segment S pole 142, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, contacts 126-127 and positive voltagesupply terminal 128. The reversing relay S remains deenergized by the presence of the diode D connected between wires 168 and 208. Similarly, the reversing relay S remains de-energized by the presence of the diode 183 connected between relay pole 172 and wire 184.

The motor M is initially energized through a circuit comprising ground wire 116, field winding 169, wire 180, the contacts 171-173 of relay S wire 178, armature winding 170, wire 177, the contacts 176-174 of relay S diode 1181, wire 182, contacts -192 of relay S wire 188, contacts 185-186 of relay S wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, the contacts 126-127 of relay S and the positive voltage-supply terminal 128.

The energization of the motors M and M causes the carriages C and C to move leftward from their starting positions, as viewed in FIG. 1. The photoelectric assembly A, passes over the shaded area 111, causing the relay S to be energized so as to close its contacts 134-133 for a sulficient period of time to step the stepping relay 8., through one step, namely, to move poles 143, 142 to their No. 2 positions. This causes the relay S to become deenergized, opening its contacts 185-186. However, motor M remains energized since the wire 182 is now connected directly to the wire 154 through the pole 142 and the No. 2" contacts of stepping switch segment S Motor M also remains energized, since the wire 168' is connected to the wire 182 through wire 194, contacts 193-190 of relay S and contacts 189-192 of said relay S The carriage movement leftward, as viewed in FIG. I, therefore, continues. The photoelectric assembly A then passes over the shaded area 111, causing the relay S to close its contacts 130-131 for a sufficient length of time to energize stepping coil 8C of step relay S sufficiently to move the step relay through one step. This causes poles 140 and 14 1 to move to their No. 2 positions. This de-energizes the relay S However, motor M remains energized since the wire 168 is now connected directly to the wire 154 through the pole 140 and the No. 2" contact of stepping switch segment S The energization of the motor M is not affected.

The photoelectric assembly A; now passes over the shaded area 63 of the first data strip 61. This energizes the relay S to close its contacts 134-133, thereby energizing the stepping coil SC sufliciently to move the step relay S through another step to its No. 3 position. This does not change the motor connections.

Continued movement leftward of the photoelectric assembly A causes it to pass over the shaded area of the second data strip 61 (with one or more unshaded data strips 62 intervening between the first and the second data strips 61), again energizing relay S and causing step relay S to advance to its No. 4 position. Again, this does not change the motor connections. The photoelectric assembly A, then passes over the shaded area of the third name data strip 61, thereby causing the step relay 5,; to advance to its No. position. This disconnects wire 182 from wire 154 and de-energizes the motor Mg- Relay S becomes energized by a circuit comprising wire 116, the winding of relay S wire 202, the No. 5 contact of stepping switch segment S pole 142, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, relay contacts 126-127 of relay Sq, wire 234 and the positive voltage-supply terminal 128. The pawl-extending solenoids P become energized through a circuit comprising ground wire 116, wire 157, the solenoids P the No. 5 contact of the stepping switch segment S pole 143, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, relay contacts 126-127, wire 234 and positive voltage-supply terminal 128. The pawls 96 are, therefore, extended and engage between the lugs 60 of the third name strip 61 and the lugs 60 of the forwardly-adjacent property data strip 62, as indicated in dotted view in FIG. 1. The pawls are, therefore, in position to move two tax units" rightward, as viewed in FIG. 1, responsive to the reversal of direction of movement of the carriages C Since motor M remains energized, the carriages C continue their leftward movement, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the photoelectric assembly A, passes over the shaded area 63 of the first name data strip 61. This energizes the relay S so as to close its contacts 130-131 and thereby again energize stepping coil 8C sufficiently to advance stepping relay S to its No 3" position. This does not affect the motor connections.

Photoelectric unit A continues its leftward movement and passes over the shaded area 63 of the second name data strip 61, with a similar result, advancing stepping switch S to its No. 4" position. This energizes the pawlextending solenoids P, through a circuit comprising ground wire 116, wire 156, the solenoids P the No. 4 contact of stepping switch segment 8 pole 141, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, contacts 126-127, wire 234 and the positive voltage terminal 128. The pawls 94 are, thereby extended, as shown in dotted view in FIG. 1, to engage between the lugs 60 of the second name data strip 61 and the forwardly-adjacent property data strip 62. Thus, the pawls 94 are effectively in driving engagement with the first tax unit to move same rightward responsive to reversal of direction of movement of the carriages C When pole 140 engages the No. 4 contact of stepping switch segment S relay S becomes energized through a circuit comprising ground wire 116, the winding of relay S wire 197, the No. 4" contact of switch segments S pole 140, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, relay contacts 126-127, wire 234 and positive voltage terminal 128. This closes the relay contacts 196-198 and energizes the reversing relays S and S The relay S, is energized through a circuit comprising the ground wire 116, the winding of relay 5-,, wire 208, wire 207, contacts 206-201 of relay S wire 199, contacts 198-196 of relay S wire 195, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, relay contacts 126-127, wire 234 and positive voltage terminal 128. Relay S is energized by a circuit comprising ground wire 116, the winding of relay S wire 184, diode 205, wire 204, contacts 203-200 of relay S wire 199, contacts 198-196 of relay S wire 195, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, relay contacts 126-127, wire 234 and positive voltage terminal 128. This moves poles 160 and 161 upwardly to engage their upper contacts 164 and 165 and moves poles 173, 172 upwardly to engage their contacts 175, 176, thereby reversing the motor connections. Thus, as above-explained, this reverses the connections of the armatures 159 and 170 with respect to the normal connections thereof. It will be noted that relay S remains energized because of the engagement of pole 142 with the No. 5 contact of the stepping switch segment S The energizing of relay S1- causes the motor M to reverse its direction of rotation and thereby causes the carriages C to move rightward, as viewed in FIG. 1, the

rightward movement of the carriages eventually causing the closure of the limit switch S This energizes the stepping coil 5C through a circuit comprising grounded wire 116, the stepping coil 8C wire 129, diode 230, wire 229, limit switch S wire 231, the No. 4 contact of the stepping switch segment S pole 140, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, relay contacts 126-127, wire 234 and positive voltage-supply terminal 128. This steps the stepping relay 8;, to the No. 5 position. Also, the stepping coil SC of stepping relay 8,, is likewise energized through a circuit comprising grounded wire 116, the stepping coil SC wire 137, diode 233, wire 232, wire 229, switch S wire 231, the No. 4" contact of switch segment S pole 140, wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, relay contacts 126-127, wire 234 and positive voltage-supply terminal 124, as in the case of the stepping coil 9C This steps the relay 8,, to its No. 6 position.

The energizing circuit for the motor M is thus opened at contacts 196-198 by the movement of the pole 140 from the No. 4 to the No. 5 contact of switch segment S55. and the motor M stops. Motor M is also de-energized by the de-energization of the relay which is deenergized by the movement of pole 142 from the No. 5 to the No. 6 contact of the stepping switch segment S The energizing circuit for motor M; is opened at the contacts 200-203 of relay 8 The pawl-extension solenoids P and P remain energized, whereby the pawls 94 and 96 remain in extended positions.

At this point, the switch S is momentarily closed manually. This connects the wire 232 to the positive voltage-supply terminal 128, whereby the stepping coil S0 is energized through the diode 230 and the wire 229 and the stepping coil SC, is energized through the diode 233 and the wire 232, whereby stepping relay S advances to its No. 6 position and stepping relay S is advanced to its No. 7" position. The motor M therefore becomes again energized through the connection of pole 161 to the pole 140 of stepping switch segment S through diode D wire 208 and the No. 6" contact of stepping switch segment S and the motor M is again energized by the connection of the pole 176 to the pole 142 of the stepping switch segment S through diode 183, wire 184, and the No. 7 contact of the stepping switch segment S Therefore, the carriages C and C continue to move rightward, as viewed in FIG. 1.

As the shaded area 63 of the first name data strip 61 passes beneath the photoelectric assembly A, at the area 107 in FIG. 1, the relay S becomes energized, closing its contacts 138-129, and thereby energizing the stepping coil SC causing stepping relay 8,; to advance to its No. 8 position. With the continued movement rightward of the first tax unit" the shaded area 63 of the first name data strip 61 reaches the area 108 beneath the photoelectric assembly A This energizes the relay S closing the contacts 135-136 thereof and again energizing the stepping coil by connecting wire 129 to wire 122 through said contacts -136, thereby advancing the stepping relay S to its No. 7 position. As pole moves into engagement with the No. 7" contact of the switch segment S the stepping coil SC is again energized by the connection of wire 129 to pole 140 through the contacts 23,-112 of switch S wire 209, and the No. 7" contact of the stepping switch segment S This advances the stepping relay S to its No. 8 position. Motor M was de-energized when the pole 140 moved from the No. 6" contact of switch segment S to the No. 7" contact thereof, and remains de-energized while pole 140 is moved into engagement with the No. 8 contact of switch segment S The first tax unit" comprising the first name data strip 61 and one or more of the address data strips 62 adjacent thereto is now in copy position over the rightside portion of the positioning plate 41, as viewed in FIG. 1.

Since the motor M remains energized, the shaded area 63 of the name data strip 61 of the second tax unit" 1 7 reaches the area 107 subjacent the photoelectric assembly A This energizes the relay S to cause its contacts 13-8- 139 to close sufficiently to energize the stepping coil 8C and to thereby advance the stepping relay 5,, to its No. 1 position. Under these conditions both sets of pawlextending solenoids P and P are de-energized and the pawls 94 and 96 are retracted.

The movement of the pole 140 of switch segment S to the "No. 8" position energizes the reset coil RC and thereby steps the stepping relay S to its No. 1 position. Thus, relay S is energized by the connection of the wire 191 to the wire 154 through the No. 1" contact of stepping switch segment S and the pole 140, and the relay S is again energized by the connection of the wire 187 to the wire 154 through the No. 1" contact of switch segment S and the pole 142. The relays S1 and S, are deenergized, so that both motors M and Mg are energized in a direction to move the carriages C, and C leftward, as viewed in FIG. 1, responsive to the closure of the contacts 193-190 of relay S and the contacts 192-189 of said relay.

With the first and second tax units" in proper positions overlying the positioning plate 41, exposure thereof, along with the information provided on the heading strip 19, may take place by turning on the copying machine 18 during the time in which the carriages C and C are moving leftward, as viewed in FIG. 1, employing any suitable control means for the copy machine. Such control means does not form any part of the present invention.

It will be noted that the shaded area 111 is covered by the name data strip 61 of the second tax unit when the first and second tax units are in copying position, and that the shaded area 63 of the name data strip of the second tax unit" replaces the shaded area 111. Thus, as the photoelectric assembly A, containing the photocell 104 passes over the location of shaded area 111, now containing the shaded area 63 of the name data strip of the second tax unit the relay S is again energized, beginning a new cycle of operation of the apparatus similar to that above-described, wherein two additional tax units are conveyed to copy positions overlying the positioning plate 41, and in the course of which the previously-copied tax units consisting of the data strips previously moved into copying positions are pushed onto the receiving plate 37. The lugs 60' of the data strips moving onto receiving plate 37 engage the limit switch 8 and move pole 112 thereof into engagement with upper contact 23,, thereof. This occurs substantially as soon as the first data strip is moved onto the receiving plate 37. At this stage in the cycle the stepping relay S is in its No. 6" position. As the shaded area 63 of the left tax unit" of the set previously copied passes over the area 108 monitored by the photoelectric assembly A stepping relay S is advanced to its No. 7 position. Motor M remains energized until the shaded area 63 of the next tax unit reaches the control area 108 and advances stepping relay S to its No. 8 position (this resets stepping relay S to its No. 1 position). Limit switch S remains in its B position, namely, with pawl 112 engaging contact 23,,, until all the tax units" are copied.

When there are only two or one tax units" remaining on the feeder plate 36, the auxiliary shaded areas 112, 113 and 114 replace the shaded area 63 in maintaining cyclic operation of the apparatus until all of the tax units" have been copied and have been moved onto the receiving plate 37. When eventually the lowermost carriage C as viewed in FIG. 1, returns rightward without a tax unit it engages limit switch S closing its contacts 148-149, thereby connecting the ungrounded terminal of reset coil RC to wire 132, thus resetting stepping relay S to its No. 1" position. If both carriages C and C at the lower portion of FIG. 1, return empty, then the carriage C engages limit switch S and the carriage C engages limit switch S This resets stepping relay S to its No. 1 position by the closure of contacts 145-146, connecting the ungrounded terminal of reset coil RC to wire 122, and resets stepping relay 5,, to its No. 1" position by the closure of the contacts 148-149, as above-described. Relay 8, is energized by a circuit comprising grounded wire 116, the winding of relay S wire 215, contacts 213-214 of limit switch 5 wire 212, contacts 210-211 of limit switch S wire 182, contacts 192-190 of relay S (energized with the pole of stepping switch segment S in its No. 1" position), wire 188, contacts 186-185 of relay S (energized with the pole 142 of stepping switch segment S in its No. 1 position), wire 154, wire 132, wire 122, contacts 126-127 of relay S wire 234 and positive voltage output terminal 128. The opening of contacts 218-219 of relay 5;, interrupts the holding circuit of the relay S opening the contacts 126-127 and thereby turning the machine ofi.

The copy machine may also be turned off by this circuit. Thus, the wire 215, connected to the wire 217, may be utilized to transmit a turnolf signal to the copy machine. Conversely, wire 215 may be utilized to transmit a turnoff signal from the copy machine to the relay 8;.

It will be noted that the contacts 226-227 of the relay 5,, are connected in parallel with the manually-operated switch S Thus, pulses from the heading attachment controlling the position of the heading strip 19 may be employed in place of manual operation of the switch S after the first tax units are in copying position.

After all the tax units" on an original feeder plate have been copied and transferred to the receiving plate 37, the receiving plate 37 may be removed and filed away for future reuse. The emptied feeder plate 36 may be transferred to the right side of the apparatus to serve as a receiving plate for the next set of data strips forming tax units to be copied.

It will be noted that the limit switches S and S are connected so that when closed they will connect wire 217 to wire 122 and thereby energize the relay S to cause its contacts 218-219 to open and interrupt the holding circuit of the relay S This automatically turns the machine olf responsive to the movements of the carriages C and C to their leftward limiting positions, as viewed in FIG. 1.

It will be further noted that the contacts 224-225 of the pulsing relay 8, are connected in parallel with the manual switch 5,, so that the same result may be obtained by energizing relay 8, as would be obtained by manuallyclosing the switch 5,. This is similar to the action provided by the substitution of relay contacts 226-227 for the manual switch S It will be noted that the light source comprising the lamp 99 for the photoelectric assembly A remains energized during the first three steps of operation of the stepping relay S and that the light source for the photoelectric assembly A, comprising the lamp 103 remains energized for the first four steps of the stepping relay S The light source for the photoelectric assembly A comprising the lamp 109 remains energized throughout the period of closure of the contacts 126-127 of the held relay S namely, during the period of operation of the apparatus. The same is true for the light source of the photoelectric assembly A namely, the lamp 105.

It will be noted that in the description of the first cycle of operation, the manually-operated switch S is utilized to advance the stepping relay S to its No. 6" position and to advance the stepping relay S to its No. 7 position. In subsequent cycles of operation, instead of manually-operating the switch S a pulse from the heading attachment employed with the apparatus may be employed to energize the relay S at the proper time in the cycle to accomplish the function originally performed by the manual closure of switch The simultaneous closure of the contacts 224-225 does not affect the relay S because this relay is already held energized by its holding circuit, as above-described.

It will be further noted that in the description of the first. cycle of operation, namely, wherein the first tax units are transported along the feeder plate 36, the carriages C move rightward until the limit switch 8 is engaged, causing both the motors M and M to become de-energized. This stops the movement of the data strips immediately prior to their advancement onto the positioning plate 41, wherein it is obvious to an operator that the manually-controlled switch S must then be momentarily closed manually. Therefore, the position of the data strips indicates to the operator the necessity for manually-actuating switch S Thus, in succeeding cycles of transporting pairs of tax units to copying positions, in the absence of means to provide the required pulses from the heading attachment to energize the relay 8,, movement of the tax units will stop as soon as the switch S is engaged, indicating to the operator the necessity of manually-operating switch S to complete the movement of the next pair of tax units" toward copying positions on positioning plate 41.

While a specific embodiment of a machine for copying data to be incorporated in tax statements, or the like, has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A data-copying assembly comprising a photo-copying machine having an exposure window, support means located above and adjacent said window, said support means extending laterally on opposite sides of the window and having parallel longitudinal edges, a plurality of data strips having end portions slidably-engaged with said edges, such that said strips are supported beneath said support means and said strips having downwardly-facing data-bearing surfaces, means to select groups of consecutive data strips including means to support said selected groups on a portion of said support means at one side of the window, means to move the selected groups of data strips along said support means into copy positions overlying said exposure window for copying, and means to move the data strips to the portion of the support means at the other side of the window after they have been copied.

2. The data-copying assembly of claim 1, and wherein said support means includes a fixed plate-like intermediate portion located above the exposure window and additional plate-like portions at the opposite sides of the exposure window, the longitudinal edges of said plate-like portions being in alignment.

3. The data-copying assembly of claim 2, and wherein said additional plate-like portions are removable and substantially identical.

4. The data-copying assembly of claim 2, and wherein the data strips are provided with hook-like end portions slidably-engaged the longitudinal edges of the plate-like portions.

5. The data-copying assembly of claim 4, and wherein the data strips are provided with outwardly-extending projections at their hook-like end portions.

6. The data-copying assembly of claim 5, and longitudinally movable carriage means engageable with said projections for moving the data strips longitudinally along said plate-like portions.

7. The data-copying assembly of claim 6, and wherein said carriage means comprises respective fixed longitudinal tracks located outwardly adjacent the longitudinal edges of the plate-like portions, respectively movable carriages supported on said tracks, means for moving the carriages along said tracks, and inwardly-extensible pawl elements on the carriages engageable between the projections of adjacent data strips.

8. The data-copying assembly of claim 7, and wherein the means for moving the carriages along the tracks com prises respective longitudinally-extending endless belt assemblies drivingly-connectecl to said carriages, and means for driving said endless belt assemblies.

9. The data-copying assembly of claim 8, and wherein said carriages are provided with horizontal inwardly-extending electromagnets having plungers, said pawl elements being mounted on the plungers.

10. The data-copying assembly of claim 9, and means biasing the plungers toward retracted positions, and means for at times energizing the electromagnets for extending the plungers to move the pawl elements to driving positions between said projections of adjacent data strips.

11. The data-copying assembly of claim 10, and wherein the means for driving said endless belt assemblies comprises drive motor means connected to said endless belt assemblies, and means energizing said drive motor means in accordance with the positions of the data strips on the plate-like portions.

12. The data-copying assembly of claim 11, and wherein said data strips are provided with positioning markings on the top ends of their hook-like end portions and the drive motor-energizing means includes photo-sensitive elements carried by the carriages at locations to be responsive to said positioning markings.

13. The data-copying assembly of claim 12, and wherein said drive motor-energizing means further includes additional photo-sensitive elements on the support means positioned over the fixed plate-like portion at locations to be responsive at times to said positioning markings on said top ends of the data strip hook-like end portions.

14. The data-copying assembly of claim 13, and limit switch means on the support means engageable by the carriages when the carriages are in starting position adjacent the data strip-receiving plate-like portion adjacent said other side of the exposure window, means to render the drive motor means inoperative while said limit switch means is engaged, and independently-controlled circuit means to energize said drive motor means sufficiently to disengage the carriages from said limit switch means, whereby to render the drive motor means operative to move the carriages toward said one side of the window.

15. The data-copying assembly of claim 14, and means to energize said electromagnets responsive to the movement of the carriages over a plurality of data strips at said one side of the window.

16. The data-copying assembly of claim 15, and means to reverse the drive motor means subsequent to the energization of said electromagnets, whereby to move the selected data strips toward the fixed plate-like portion.

17. The data-copying assembly of claim 16, and further limit switch means on the support means engageable by a carriage moving toward the fixed plate-like portion just before it reaches said fixed plate-like portion, means to dc-energize said driving motor means responsive to the engagement of said last-named carriage with said further limit switch means, and further independently-operated means to re-energize said driving motor means to cause resumed movement of the selected data strips toward and over said fixed plate-like portion.

18. The data-copying assembly of claim 17, and means to again reverse said drive motor means responsive to the sensing of said positioning markings of said data strips by said additional photo-sensitive elements when the data strips are in copy positions over said window, and means to de'energize said electromagnets concurrently with the last-named reversal of the drive motor means.

19. The data-copying assembly of claim 18, and a plurality of spaced further markings on the plate-like portion at said one side of the window located to be sensed by the photo-sensitive element on a carriage in the absence of data strips with positioning markings.

20. The data-copying assembly of claim 19, and additional limit switch means engageable by a carriage in a limiting position beyond the plate-like portion at said one side of the window, and means to de-energize the drive motor means responsive to the engagement of said additional limit switch means by said last-named carriage.

21. A data-copying assembly comprising a photo-copying machine having an exposure window, support means located above and adjacent said window, said support means extending laterally on opposite sides of the window and having parallel longitudinal edges, a plurality of data strips having end portions slidably-engaged with said edges, such that said strips are supported beneath said support means and said strips having downwardly-facing data-bearing surfaces, means to select groups of consecutive data strips including means to support said selected groups on a portion of said support means at one side of the window, means to move the selected groups of data strips along said support means into copy positions overlying said exposure window for copying, and means to move the data strips to the portion of the support means at the other side of the window after they have been copied, wherein said support means includes a fixed platelike intermediate portion located above the exposure window and additional plate-like portions at the opposite sides of the exposure window, the longitudinal edges of said plate-like portions being in alignment, wherein the data strips are provided with hook-like portions slidably engaged around the longitudinal edges of the plate-like References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,403,884 1/1922 Wynkoop 35596 1,670,673 5/1928 Williams 95-98 1,970,381 8/1934 Landrock 355- 2,393,462 '1/1946 Gorad et a1. 355-64 2,545,031 3/1951 Izzi 98 JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner E. M. BERO, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 35553, 64, 75, 96 

